TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI. 
179 
plans of small walls, apparently those of dwelling-houses, between 
where our tents the spot were pitched and the sea ; the remains are 
however so few and inconsiderable, and so much mixed with stones 
lielonging to the soil, as to be wholly without any interest. 
The country at Boosaida is somewhat hilly, and overrun with grass 
and brushwood, a small part only being planted with barley. The 
few Bedouins who inhabit it appear to have no other occupation than 
that of tending their camels, sheep, and goats ; and the women are 
chiefly occupied in curing skins for containing water and manteca, 
which is done by means of certain roots found in great quantities in 
the neighbourhood. The Shekh, or principal man of the place, was 
named Hamed Shakshak, who, in order to ensure our being well 
supplied, for we ought not to suspect so obliging a personage of 
any less praiseworthy motive, took care to usurp the sole right 
and privilege of furnishing us himself with whatever we wished to 
purchase ; never forgetting, however, in the excess of his zeal, to put 
a most unconscionable price upon everything. So careful had this 
considerate person been in his manoeuvres, that we could not get 
even a draught of milk from the women in other tents, without pro- 
mising to keep it secret fi’om ITamed Shakshak. As we had no wish 
to embroil the honest inhabitants with their Shekh, we thought it 
better to take no notice of this proceeding, especially as the time 
we had to remain at Boosaida was short, and our demands were not 
likely to be very great. 
It was here that our agreement with the Mesurata camel-drivers 
flnished; and the day after our arrival we were rejoined by our friend 
2 A S 
